PREVIEW: Catchers

Coming into Spring Training, the Sox once again bring back A.J. Pierzynski to call balls and strikes. A.J. will be heading into his fifth season with the squad after joining the team before the championship 2005 season. A.J. will call one of the best games in the majors, but is a liability on the field. Pierzynski had an inability to throw out runners this year, and all years he has played with the Sox. A.J. will bring a good offensive input, as he hit .281 with 13 homers and 60 RBI. During Spring training, the White Sox will likely pick a back-up catcher unless they sign the likes of Ivan Rodriguez, who has beenlinked to discussion as a possible number 2 catcher. The battle for catcher seems to be between Donny Lucy and Cole Armstrong. Cole hit .320 at AAA Charlotte and is good defensively. The only liability with him is that he is a lefthanded bat. He would likely get starts against southpaws, but dd hit .318 against them. Donny Lucy would probably be the most logical choice. He is better than Armstrong defensively and is right-handed. The only downside to him is that he was injured for almost all of last season and we don't know how that will affect his play.

My Prediction

1. A.J. Pierzynski

2. Cole Armstrong

3. Donny Lucy

4. Paul Phillips